PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. military has denied Israeli reports of plans to build a $500-million base near Gaza and stated that no American troops will be deployed to the territory.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the Trump administration, Israeli officials, and media outlets, including Bloomberg and Ynet.

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📍WHEN & WHERE: Claims emerged Tuesday, with CENTCOM issuing a denial on Wednesday. The alleged base was said to be near Gaza’s border.

💬KEY QUOTE: “To be clear, no U.S. troops will be deployed into Gaza. Any reporting to the contrary is false.” – Captain Tim Hawkins, CENTCOM spokesman

🎯IMPACT: The denial aims to prevent regional tensions and political backlash while clarifying the U.S. role in Gaza remains advisory and logistical.

The U.S. military is firmly denying reports suggesting it plans to build a $500-million base near Gaza. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a statement on Wednesday dismissing claims from Israeli media outlets that the Pentagon was preparing to establish a large installation to oversee postwar stabilization and reconstruction, emphasizing that no American troops will be deployed to the territory.

Reports from Israeli outlets such as Ynet and Shomrim on Tuesday alleged that the U.S. was planning to build a base capable of housing 10,000 personnel. However, CENTCOM spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins refuted the claims, stating, “Reports of the establishment of a U.S. military base near Gaza are inaccurate. To be clear, no U.S. troops will be deployed into Gaza. Any reporting to the contrary is false.”

The Trump administration has taken a central role in securing and maintaining a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, focusing on advisory and logistical support rather than direct military involvement. The U.S. has worked with regional partners to prevent renewed hostilities, emphasizing that any suggestion of a permanent American military presence near Gaza could escalate tensions.

Notably, the Israeli media reports appear to be based on a Bloomberg News story from Tuesday, which reported that the U.S. Navy had circulated a request for information regarding a potential temporary base near Gaza. The document sought cost estimates for a “self-sustaining military base of operations capable of supporting 10,000 personnel.” Bloomberg later clarified that the request was not a formal solicitation for bids, and the proposed facility would not necessarily house U.S. troops.

Currently, around 200 U.S. troops are stationed in Israel as part of the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), which coordinates humanitarian and security assistance into Gaza. Officials have reiterated that this presence is temporary and focused solely on logistical support. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also dismissed the Bloomberg report, stating, “Such a plan has not been considered or approved by the highest levels of the United States government and should not be deemed as an official plan in the Middle East.”

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